The Escapist: SWTOR Beta Hands On Impressions

The lifted media embargo continues, as we get more impressions from around the internet. This time we can find the impressions of another media tester from The Escapist. This article reads like a full blown preview of the game, covering all aspects of the game from story to game mechanics.

Thankfully, the combat is true to the overall style of Star Wars. Jedis leap into combat, swinging their lightsabers left and right as flesh-eating aliens fall around them, or how Smugglers crouch behind cover, using thermal grenades and blasters to take out robot sentries and bounty hunters. I have to say though, having started with a Jedi class, the smuggler and trooper are just not as dynamic. Sure, the cover system and ranged combat work as designed, but I didn’t feel that the combat for the ranged classes was as active or strategic as the combat for the Jedis. Once you find a spot of cover, you just start cycling through your attacks until it’s time to move on to the next bit of cover. Sure, as a Jedi you’re equally focused on hotbars and cooldowns, but at least you get to move around a bit and watch some exciting animations.

Out of all the goodies in this article, we do find out that the main pull for the author is that his Smuggler got to kick guys in the nuts!